When the Alliance President and Grand Admiral of the fleet are killed in a deadly attack on Alliance headquarters Nick and Blaster Squad are sent on a suicidal mission to stop the Master from gaining control of Albanel, a planet in the Gateway system, far from Alliance space. Albanel's mines provide the principal source of plasma ore to drive the Alliance fleet. If it is lost to the Master the Alliance will fall.
Once at their destination they discover an unexpected rival from Nick's past is helping the Master to overthrow the galaxy and throwing civilization into a new dark age ruled by terror and fear. Nick Justice and Blaster Squad are determined to thwart their evil plans and save the critical plasma ore from falling in the Master's hands or die trying.
